The ghost of Ascot strikes again

JUST when everyone was thinking the Chibuku Super Cup would bring a welcome diversion from the madness that gripped the local game in recent days, Ascot is promising another afternoon of high drama if Chicken Inn and the Premier Soccer League fail to mend their standoff.

The Gamecocks, who are set to host newboys Yadah in Gweru today, have threatened not to travel for the match unless they get a response from the authorities why the match was being played away from their home ground.

The club’s secretary-general Tawengwa Hara yesterday maintained the authorities had treated them unfairly and had even chosen not to respond to the two letters they sent this week.

Chicken Inn were billed to leave Bulawayo for Gweru yesterday but Hara said they had sent their players home until they got a response.

“We haven’t received any communication from them and we have told our boys to go back home until we hear from the PSL office.

“We wrote to them on September 20 asking for a possible postponement of this game so that we will also be able to enjoy the benefits of playing at home as a seeded team.

‘’Rules are clear that the seeded teams play their first round matches at home.

“Also on that, we really appreciate that we have the COSAFA tournament taking place in Bulawayo and that is why we have been playing at Hartsfield. We wrote to them again yesterday (Thursday) seeking clarification on the rules about the seeded teams playing first round matches at home. We wanted to know if the rules have changed. If not, at least, they needed to involve us in choosing an alternative venue since we are the home team.

“Again there was no response. So we wait to hear from them and as I speak right now, we are not travelling to Gweru today (yesterday),” said Hara.

Yadah, however, left Harare for Gweru yesterday.

Ascot has also been in the headlines this week for the replay of the abandoned fixture between Chapungu and Dynamos which had to restart at 56th minute, three months later.

PSL officials were not available for comment yesterday.